The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-11-30
soclETYs DeeT TO pAUPeRS.
A Physician Takes an Unexpected Attitude
90. 1L.n nnc.finu Of Hnblic lhnritIcs.

on the Question OF Public Charities.
.'rhe pauper has always had hard
time in this world said a New York
phy sician to q reporter. Men whose
hearts have been crowded aside by
plethoric pocketbooks," be added, dole
him their pennies in the same spirit that
characterizcs their dealings with unfor-
tunate relatives. Yet the pauper has be
come an indispensable element in the
march Of civilization and science.
Before the Christian era and for many
centuries after be was crowded out Of life,
like Lazarus in the parable, dying on the
doorstep Of Dives palace. covered with
sores and In all respects a verlta0le old
time tramp. In this enlightened age,
however, he has no one but himself TO
blame if such q misfortune overtakes
him Society needs him and Is willing to
build and maintain extensive public insti-
tutions. where he may eat, sleep, be
clothed and die at an annual expense IN
this CITY. for example. OF less than SlOO
per capita, including "a pine colin ana a
grave in Pottor's field"
But is not the pauper great drain on
the taxpayer
-Hardlv The OBLIGATIONS OF society TO
the p0upcr and the plupcr's obligations
90 society," whom weighed iu the scales oil
primitive justice almost balance each
other II ANYTHING different can be found
the pauper has fhe worst of if Unlike his
brother. the criminal. whom the public Is
OBLIGED tO maintain. be has mot become a
burden ON society through lal.ness or evil
inclinatiOns Disease old l-e. accidents
are his irrcmediablc misforauucs. He IS
compelled 10 accept charity, yet in the
public estimation This fact Oycrwcighs all
former services he may have rendered his
follow men in the Ill. barge of his duties
ash citizen. and society holds him body
aud soul until his obligations are full
filed.
"In what manner can he possibly cancel
his obligations.
"lu many ways When disease over
takes Mm be becomes the object Of medi-
cal experiments. Professors and students
gather around his bedside aud seek for
some new light which may guide them In
their practice among the independent
classes. and surgeons undertake IN ms
case operations they would never dream
of attempting if the life OF pay
mg patient were at stake. Thousands
upon thousands die each year, giving up
their lives iu the interests of science; and
the wealthy taxpayer derives in The
end This benefit. that when some deadly
disease strikes him down, his cure ia
many cases is effected by q new method
Of treatment. perfected hy experiments
which c0sfthe lives of perhaps hundred
pauDors. Glance at fhe medical experts
I'm different disease The results Of their
experiments read something in this way.
Total unmhero of cases. 100, died. I'd, i'm
proved. 23. cured. e. Then follow The de-
dnct.ons u.s. t0 the best treatment of the
maladv under cOnsidcrat i0n. such com
plations may De found jim amy medical
work. and paupcr cases have been iu al
most every instance the basis of the calcu-
lations.
aside from this how many obligations
doe one pauper cancel in sacrificing his
body upon the dissecting table, How many
physicians Of reputation are indebted 20
him f0rthc.r knowledge of anatomy and
The functions OF the various organs In the
human bodye What au important part
Doe PLAYS iu the education and training Of
professional nurses Thus be repays
doubly whatever obligations he may owe
10 bis fellow men. As q fDal considera
ton how could the commissioners Of G..
and G. manage 20 spend $1,000 600 per
annum of the taxpayers money If u were
not for the paupersF New York Mail
Express